Sewing-machine treadle



UNITED @rarns 1 Parent @rrron.

\VILLIAM F. OTIS, OF NORIVALK, OHIO.

SEWING-MACHlNE TREADLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,131, dated July 30, 1889..

. Application filed September 2'7, 1888. Serial No. 286,495. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. One, of Norwalk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machine Treadles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in sewing-machine treadles in which the trcadle is operated by a push of the foot, the axis of the treadle being located so far above and in advance of the ankle-joint of the operator that such ankle-joint is hardlybrought into action in operating the treadle, but in place thereof a swingingmotion, rather than a rocking or oscillating movement, is imparted to the foot, that brings into play the stronger muscles, more especially of the thigh and calf of the leg, by reason of which even a hard-running machine is operated with little or no fatigue.

My invention also relates to the details of construction hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In United States Letters Patent No. 243,020, dated June let, 1881, itis claimed for the treadle shown and described therein that the axis of port the treadle, so that the device can be attached to almost any variety of sewing-machine in common use. \Vhere the treadles are built for one variety of machine or for new work, such adjustable features are not needed.

A represents the treadle proper, the same having slots a for the passage of the securing bolts that fasten arms B to the treadlc, and by means of such slot arms 13 may beextended or contracted, according to the distance between the legs of the machine in which the treadle is to operate. Arm A of the trea-(lle has wrist a for connecting with pitman C. It will be observed that the portion of the treadle where the ball of the foot usually rests, and with the ordinary treadle performs so important functions, is in my improved construction entirely omitted, the foot-rest embracing only the portion a? where the heel rests, a rib a being provided for the front side of the heel to press against in operating the treadle.

From the foregoing it will readily be conjectured that the treadle operates on different principles from that of the various treadles where the ball of the foot is used in operating the treadle. The arms B are provided with arms B, which extend up some distance from the face of the treadle, usually about as far above and about as far in advance of the line of the ankle-j oint of the operator as the anklejoint is above the face of the treadle, by reason of which it is impossible for the ankle- .joint to articulate in concert with the treadle.

The fact is the ankle-j oint maybe and usually is held rigid, or approximately so, in operating the treadle. The extremes of arms B turn outward and terminate in trunnions b, the latter being journaled in holes (not shown) in brackets D. For new work these brackets may be cast integral with the legs of the sewing-machine; but for attaching to machines already built the brackets are substantially as follows: Screw-bolts D pass through the holes in the legs where the old treadle was pivoted, and pass also through corresponding holes in the brackets. Arms (Z, which are integral with brackets D, extend forward and downward to near the floor, and are provided with adjusting-screws d, by manipulating which screws the brackets may be tilted on bolt D to raise or lower the treadle in ad justing the latter to its proper distance from the floor. Arm A is somewhat longer than the corresponding part on an ordinary treadle, and consequently the throw of pitman (J is effected with little movement of the foot, and this answers the purpose well for ordinary light-running machines.

For some of the older machines that run 7 hard a longer sweep of the foot is desirable,

and this is had by lengthening the crank by mechanism as follows: An arm or link E is mounted on the old wrist F of the machine, and when adjusted is made fast with the wrist by means of set-screw 6. Link E has a Wrist e, that connects with pitman O, the old pitman of the machine being utilized. It is evident that by turning link E on Wrist F any throw of crank may be had that is required to give the desired stroke to the foot in operating the machine more or less, according as the machine runs heavy or light. The treadle is operated entirely by pushing with the heel, and, as aforesaid, no special action of the ankle is required, except to hold the ankle-joint approximately rigid, operating the treadle bringing into play the muscles along the leg from the ankle to and incl uding the thigh, using more especially the large muscles of the thigh, and for these strong muscles the labor for running the sewing-machine is trifling. For supporting the fore part of the foot I provide stirrups G, the latter being broad enough to accommodate both feet. The stirrup is shown suspended by Wire H, the latter being pivotally attached to the under side of the sewing-machine table, a portion of the wire being preferably coiled into a spiral spring 71, so that the stirrup may yield a trifle to the pressure of the foot. The foot is thereby supported in any easy position during its movement in operating the treadle. A strap or cord with or without a spring would do for supporting the stirrup, but the construction shown is preferable, being simple and inexpensive.

What I claim is 1. The combination, with a sewing-machine treadle having a longitudinal rib or flange thereon, of upwardly-proj ectin g arms adjustably attached to the treadle and located in front of said rib, and pivoted to the machinesupports, and a pitman connecting the front end of the treadle with the crank of the machine, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a sewing-machine treadle having upwardly-proj ecting arms pivotally mounted, substantially as indicated,of a swinging stirrup for supporting the forward part of the foot of the operator, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a sewing-machine treadle having a seat for engaging the heels of the operator, of a stirrup for supporting the forward parts of the feet, such stirrup being suspended from above, so as to swing with the movement of the treadle, substantially as set forth.

at. The combination, with a treadle having arms pivoted substantially as indicated, of brackets connected by bolts with the legs of the machine, such brackets pivotally support ing the said arms and treadle, lateral arms connected with such brackets, and adjustingscrews connected with such lateral arms, said adj usting-screws engaging the floor, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with atreadle substan tially as indicated,of a pitman for connecting the treadle with the crank of the sewing-inachine and a link mounted on the crank and adjustably secured thereto, such link having a Wrist for connecting with the pitman, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 8th day of May, 1888.

WVILLIAM F. OTIS.

W'itnesses:

CHAS. H. DORER, ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

